Lessons Learned: Developing an Undergraduate Hartford Partnership Program in Aging Education

Abstract

Meeting the needs of the growing older adult population requires generalist trained social workers to deliver services, especially for home and community- based care coordination. This article describes how one BSW program adapted its existing MSW Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education (HPPAE) to prepare baccalaureate-level social workers to serve older adults. Looking at the core components of the HPPAE and the CSWE 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, this article explains the challenges that arose in developing a BSW HPPAE and how they were addressed. A BSW HPPAE model of education, patterned after the MSW HPPAE, is a viable option for needed workforce preparation and offers an opportunity for BSW programs to prepare students with important gerontological knowledge and skills while they master generalist practice.